Jalen Duren scored 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting and collected 10 rebounds to help the Detroit Pistons post a 110-102 victory over the host Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night.
Ausar Thompson recorded 18 points, 12 rebounds and three steals as the Pistons notched their eighth victory in the past 10 games. Detroit closed the game with an 11-2 run after blowing a 21-point, third-quarter lead.
Duncan Robinson scored 15 points as Detroit prevailed in the opener of a five-game road trip. Cade Cunningham had 14 points, nine assists and six rebounds before fouling out with 8:32 remaining.
Shaedon Sharpe had 25 points and a career-best five steals and Deni Avdija added 18 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who had a three-game winning streak halted.
Donovan Clingan had 17 points and 10 rebounds and reserve Sidy Cissoko scored 16 points for Portland, which shot 44.6% from the field, including 7 of 32 from 3-point range.
The Trail Blazers committed 19 turnovers while Detroit had just 10.
Tobias Harris added 12 points and Jaden Ivey had 11 off the bench for the Pistons, who shot 43.6% from the field and made 7 of 30 from 3-point range.
The Pistons led 95-78 entering the fourth quarter before the Trail Blazers opened the period with a 13-2 run.
A key sequence came when Cunningham was called for an offensive foul to end his night. He drew a technical while arguing his disqualification and Avdija knocked down the ensuing technical shot. Clingan added two free throws 13 seconds later as Portland moved within 97-91.
After Duren’s layup with 7:10 left, the Trail Blazers ran off nine straight points and took their only lead of the game on Toumani Camara’s 3-pointer to make it 100-99 with 4:13 remaining.
Harris made two free throws to put the Pistons back ahead with 3:44 left. Thompson then stole the ball and dunked it home to give Detroit a three-point lead with 3:34 to play.
Duren’s putback made it 105-100 with 2:49 remaining. After Avdija split two free throws, Harris hit a floater to give the Pistons a six-point edge with 1:53 left.
A putback dunk by Thompson made it 109-102 with just under a minute remaining as Detroit closed it out.
Cunningham scored 12 first-half points as the Pistons led 61-51 at the break. Sharpe scored 16 in the half for Portland.
Detroit’s lead reached 21 points at a game-best 84-63 on Thompson’s layup with 6:25 remaining in the third quarter.
–Field Level Media
